"Postcode gangs"

Some information on London street gangs and their territorial nature. Not yet "organised crime" but some links to drug distribution. Presumably there is some research on network development in the criminological literature?

The Prum Treaty

The link is to a report by the House of Lords European Committee on the Prum Treaty,which is mainly concerned with the exchange of data across borders to combat terrorism illegal immigration and crime. The signatories are Benelux, Germany, Austria, Spain and France. I picked up its existence in a piece in Private Eye [21st December to 11th January] , the British satirical magazine, which alleges that the UK is signing up to a parallel treaty that doesnt include "hot pursuit" across borders.
I'm quite surprised to have missed this Treaty, but will be following it up!

Savage Silencing of Mexico's Musicians

This is a story that's been growing in the North American press. At least 12 Mexican pop singers have been murdered, in a manner that suggests drug gang hitmen are involved. This Washington Post piece suggests that drug traffickers are financing some pop careers, partly to use concerts as money-laundering opportunities. There are songs known as "narcocorridos" that celebrate drug lords. But it is not at all clear who is killing singers or why.

Crime in New York continues to fall

Number of major felonies fallen for 17th successive year. Policing strategy seen as responsible. More on Operation Impact and hot-spot policing in New York Times article http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/27/nyregion/27crime.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&th&emc=th

Los Angeles Combating Gangs Gone International

Interesting piece from the New York Times that implies that deportation may not be the solution to either illegal immigration or "terrorism". Instead deportation may strengthen international links. The article argues that street gangs in Los Angeles have expanded their networks in Central America and Mexico. It's a confused piece which needs to be followed up.

Rare for employer to face criminal charges for hiring illegal immigrants

That old "supply and demand problem". Washington Post article suggests that the employee gets the criminal charge, but rarely the employer, despite Administration rhetoric.

Whitehall accused of drug cover-up

Criticism of Home Office manipulation of the presentation of official statistics. Needless to say, the Home Office doesn't see that it has done anything wrong. Unfortunately the Statistics Commission disagrees. These are statistics on drugs. There is a warning here for researchers.

More on Shadowcrew

A longer article from October. There is more on modus operandi and the nature of roles in the network here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3965975.stm
It describes a "borderless" "e-crime network" whose members don't need to meet.

Shadowcrew

An identity theft network this time. Apologies for the pause in blogging for the last four weeks. Your blogmeister broke his arm for Christmas. Capital letters may be a little hit and miss for a while.
This article refers to Opration Firewall and to a group called Shadowcrew. I will insert further links as I discover them.

Thousands Sought over Child Porn

This piece from the BBC refers to "12,000 suspected members" of a network. It may be aceptable for journlists to declare them a network, but are they a network in criminological terms? Do we require horizontal connections as well as vertical ones?